Pedestal mounting for sewing machine



May 2, 1 R. s. SHELTON PEDESTAL MOUNTING FOR SEWING MACHINE v 2 $heets-Sheet 1 Filed Dec. 1.4, 1964 FIG. I

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May 2, 1967 R. s. SHELTON 3,315,869

PEDESTAL MOUNTING FOR SEWING MACHINE Filed Dec. 14, 1964 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG. 3

INVENTOR. RUSSELL S. SHIELTON A TTOJRNEYA! United States Patent assignor to Southern Paducah, Ky., a corpora- This invention relates to a sewing machine mounting apparatus, and more particularly to a mounting pedestal for a sewing machine of the dial looper type.

Sewing machines of the dial looper type are used for sewing together portions of knitted goods which are separately formed on knitting machines. These dial loopers are conventionally constructed with an annular row of work supporting points which are continuously advanced past a stitch forming station where the pieces of knitted goods which are supported on the points are seWn together. To use a sewing machine of this type, an operator manually superimposes individual loops on edges of two pieces of knitted goods on successive work supporting points, so loops of the two pieces of material are sewn together as they are advanced past the stitch forming station. Efficient operation of the sewing ma chine requires that the operator be able to work at any position around the work supporting points, it being frequently necessary for the operator to shift his position relative to the annular row of work supporting points. This shift in relative position may be accomplished either by the operator moving around the row of points, or by rotating the row of points about its own axis in front of the operator, the primary consideration being to accomplish the shift without interrupting the operators work. Accordingly, it is a primary object of this invention to provide a rigid mounting pedestal rotatably supporting a dial looper sewing machine for rotation thereon with minimum interference to the sewing machine operator.

Another object is to provide a rigid support for a dial looper sewing machine and permit the operator to rotate the machine about a vertical axis to present any segment of the work supporting points at the work station in front of the operator.

Another object of the invention is to provide a mounting pedestal rotatably supporting a dial looper sewing machine on a rigid base in such a manner that the sewing machine may be easily and smoothly rotated by the operators feet, leaving the operators hands free to perform other functions.

Another object of the invention is to provide a mounting pedestal for a sewing machine which permits the operator to easily and smoothly rotate the sewing machine about a vertical axis, and which does not require excessive effort or cause excessive fatigue of the operator.

In the attainment of the foregoing and other objects, an important feature of the invention resides in mounting the sewing machine for free rotation about the upper end of a fixed, elongated hollow support column. An elongated cylindrical sleeve surrounds the fixed column and has its upper end fixed to the sewing machine for rotation therewith and has a radially extending flange around its lower end in position to be engaged and rotated by an operators feet. The supporting column is rigidly mounted in an opening in the upper surface of a rigid, hollow supporting base and an elongated drive shaft having its upper end operatively connected to the sewing machine is journaled for rotation within the hollow supporting column. A drive motor is mounted on the upper surface of the hollow base, and suitable means, such as a V belt and pulley arrangement, are provided within the hollow base member for rotating the drive shaft to operate the machine. A foot actuated pedestal is provided for selectively engaging or disengaging the drive means, and an adjustable friction brake is provided to control the force required to rotate the machine about its vertical axis.

Other objects and advantages of the pedestal mounting will become obvious from the following specification taken with the drawings, in which FIG. 1 is a side elevation view of a sewing machine supporting on a mounting pedestal constructed according to the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a sectional view of the mounting pedestal shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a partial section view taken on line 3-3 of FIGJZ;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on line 44 of FIG. 3; and,

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on line 5-5 of FIG. 2.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, a sewing machine indicated generally by the numeral 1, is shown supported for rotation about a vertical axis on a mounting pedestal 2. The mounting pedestal comprises a hollow base 3 having a substantially horizontal upper surface 4 with an opening 5 extending therethrough. An elongated, tubular support column 6 has its lower end fixed, as by welding illustrated at 7, within opening 5. An antifriction thrust bearing 8 is mounted on the upper end 9 of column 6 and supports the sewing machine 1 for free rotation about the vertical axis of column 6, with the sewing machine being retained on hearing 8 by suitable means such as a clamping ring 10 and bolts 11.

An elongated cylindrical sleeve 12 is rotatably fixed, as by welding, to clamping ring 10 and extends downwardly therefrom concentrically with supporting column 6 and terminates at a point spaced above horizontal surface 4. A radially extending flange 13 is mounted on the lower end of sleeve 12, with flange 13 overlaying a portion of surface 4 in vertically spaced relation thereto. A plurality of friction blocks (see FIG. 5) are mounted on the lower surface of flange 13 in position to engage the outer surface of supporting column 6 to maintain the lower end of sleeve 12 concentric with column 6, and to offer frictional resistance to rotation of the sleeve and the sewing machine about the vertical axis. One of the friction blocks 14 may be adjustable as by eccentric cam 15 to vary the force required to rotate sleeve 12 about column 6.

A drive motor 16 is mounted on surface 4, as by bolts 17, with its shaft 18 projecting downwardly through an opening 19 in base 3. A pulley 20 mounted on shaft 18 drives a V-belt 21 which may be selectively positioned to drive either a drive pulley 22 or an idler pulley 23. Both the drive and idler pulleys are mounted on the lower end of an elongated drive shaft 24 journaled for rotation coaxially within column 6, as by bearing 25 and bushing 26. A flexible coupling 27 mounted on the upper end of shaft 24 operatively connects the drive shaft 24 to stub shaft 28 to operate the sewing machine 1.

As best seen in FIGS. 3 and 4, a foot actuated pedal 3% is mounted on the end of a shaft 31 which, in turn, is journaled for rotation within a bushing 32 extending through a sidewall of base 3. A crank arm 33 is rotatably fixed on the inner end of shaft 31 for rotation therewith and has a fork 34 straddling belt 21 so that actuation of pedal 30 to cause rotation of shaft 31 within bushing 32 will cause crank 33 to move through a relatively short are, causing belt 21 to move vertically between drive pulley 22 and idler pulley 23 as desired.

As an alternative to the V-belt and pulley drive arrangement, a more positive drive such as a chain and sprocket arrangement or a gear and shaft drive may be 3 employed with the foot actuated pedal 30 being operatively connected to a suitable clutch to engage or disengage shaft 24 from the drive motor 16.

By employing an anti-friction thrust bearing to support the sewing machine for rotation about the vertical axis of the rigid supporting column, very little force is required to rotate the machine through 360 of rotation in either direction as desired by the operator. Also, by positioning the bearing 8 adjacent the top of support column 6 with sleeve 12 and flange 13 depending downwardly around and maintained concentric with the rigid shaft 6, any tendency of the single support bearing to bind is eliminated and movement of the machine, other than rotation, is eliminated. Further, the bearing is kept relatively free from lint which is always present around such machines and which has proved troublesome with machines supported for rotation upon exposed rollers or the like adjacent the floor level.

It has been found that this supporting arrangement offers so little resistance to rotation that very little effort is required by the operator to rotate the machine about its vertical axis. The operator accomplishes this simply by placing his feet upon the upper surface of flange 13 and applying a light pushing or pulling force depending upon the direction in which it is desired to rotate the machine. By adjusting the pressure applied by the friction blocks 14 upon the surface of column 6, the force required to turn the machine can readily be adjusted to suit the individual operator.

The relatively small diameter of the drive shaft 24, the support column 6 and sleeve 12 makes it possible for the operator to comfortably sit at an operating station with one foot placed on flange 13 on one side of sleeve 12 and the other foot on the opposite side of the sleeve. By positioning the pedal 30 closely adjacent the outer periphery of flange 13, it is only necessary for the operator to move one foot slightly to engage or disengage the drive means for the sewing machine. Thus, it becomes apparent that the operator fully controls the sewing machine, both as to its rotational position and as to the actuation of the stitching mechanism, with her feet, thereby leaving the hands free at all times to place the knitted articles onto the supporting points of the sewing machine.

While I have disclosed a preferred embodiment of my invention I wish it understood that I do not intend to be limited solely thereto but that I do intend to include all embodiments thereof which would be apparent to one skilled in the art and which come within the spirit and scope of my invention.

I claim:

1. A mounting pedestal for supporting a dial looper sewing machine for rotation about a vertical axis comprising a hollow base having an upper surface with an opening formed therein, an elongated hollow support column fixed on said base and extending upwardly from said opening, anti-friction bearing means supporting a sewing machine on the upper end of said column for free rotation thereon about the longitudinal axis thereof, bearing means supporting a drive shaft within said column, said drive shaft having means at its upper end for drivingly connecting said shaft to a sewing machine supported on said column and having its lower end extending within said hollow base, motor means mounted upon said base, drive means within said hollow base operatively connecting said motor means to the lower end of said drive shaft for operating a sewing machine connected thereto, an elongated cylindrical sleeve concentric with and surrounding said column and having means at its upper end for fixing said sleeve to a sewing machine supported on said column for rotation therewith, a radially extending flange on the lower end of said sleeve overlying a portion of said upper surface of said base in position to be engaged by the feet of a sewing machine operator to manually rotate said sleeve about said vertical axis, and friction brake means for controlling the force required to rotate said sleeve, said brake means being adjustable to vary the frictional resistance to rotation of said sleeve.

2. A mounting pedestal for a dial looper sewing machine comprising, a fixed hollow base having an upper surface with an opening formed therein, an elongated hollow support column fixed on said base and extending upwardly from said opening, bearing means for supporting a sewing machine on the upper end of said column for rotation thereon about the longitudinal axis thereof, an elongated drive shaft supported within said column for driving a sewing machine connected thereto and supported on said column, means within said hollow base for rotating said shaft, an elongated cylindrical sleeve concentric with and surrounding said column and having means at its upper end for fixing said sleeve to a sewing machine supported on said column for rotation therewith, a radially extending flange on the lower end of said sleeve overlying a portion of said upper surface of said base in position tobe engaged by the feet of a sewing machine operator to manually rotate the sleeve and a sewing machine fixed thereto about said vertical axis, and adjustable friction brake means for controlling the force required to rotate said sleeve.

3. The sewing machine mounting pedestal defined in claim 2 further including motor means mounted on said base, said means for rotating said shaft including means within said hollow base for operatively connecting said motor means to said shaft.

4. The sewing machine mounting pedestal defined in claim 3 further including means selectively operable to engage and disengage said drive means with said shaft, and lever means mounted on said base in position to be operated by the foot of a sewing machine operator for controlling the actuation of said selectively operable means.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,862,464 12/1958 Darandik 112-25 3,007,425 11/ 1961 Darandik 1 1225 3,077,843 2/1963 Speck l12-258 X 3,107,075 10/1963 Matthews 1l2--258 X 3,153,393 10/1964 De Spain 1l225 3,219,003 11/1965 Darandik l12-25 JORDAN FRANKLIN, Primary Examiner.

G. H. KRIZMANICH, Assistant Examiner. 

2. A MOUNTING PEDESTAL FOR A DIAL LOOPER SEWING MACHINE COMPRISING, A FIXED HOLLOW BASE HAVING AN UPPER SURFACE WITH AN OPENING FORMED THEREIN, AN ELONGATED HOLLOW SUPPORT COLUMN FIXED ON SAID BASE AND EXTENDING UPWARDLY FROM SAID OPENING, BEARING MEANS FOR SUPPORTING A SEWING MACHINE ON THE UPPER END OF SAID COLUMN FOR ROTATION THEREON ABOUT THE LONGITUDINAL AXIS THEREOF, AN ELONGATED DRIVE SHAFT SUPPORTED WITHIN SAID COLUMN FOR DRIVING A SEWING MACHINE CONNECTED THERETO AND SUPPORTED ON SAID COLUMN, MEANS WITHIN SAID HOLLOW BASE FOR ROTATING SAID SHAFT, AN ELONGATED CYLINDRICAL SLEEVE CONCENTRIC WITH AND SURROUNDING SAID COLUMN AND HAVING MEANS AT ITS UPPER END FOR FIXING SAID SLEEVE TO A SEWING MACHINE SUPPORTED ON SAID COLUMN FOR ROTATION THEREWITH, A RADIALLY EXTENDING FLANGE ON THE LOWER END OF SAID SLEEVE OVERLYING A PORTION OF SAID UPPER SURFACE OF SAID BASE IN POSITION TO BE ENGAGED BY THE FEET OF A SEWING MACHINE OPERATOR TO MANUALLY ROTATE 